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Agence France Presse
May 4, 2013 Saturday 3:17 PM GMT
Orthodox Christians mark Jerusalem Holy Fire rite
JERUSALEM, May 04 2013
Throngs of Orthodox Christians filled Jerusalem's ancient Church of
the Holy Sepulchre and surrounding streets on Saturday for the "Holy
Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.
Believers hold that a divine fire from heaven ignites candles held by
the Greek Orthodox patriarch, in an annual rite dating back to the 4th
century AD symbolising the resurrection of Christ.
Israeli police deployed in large numbers to secure an estimated 10,000
faithful packed into the church, with a similar number in the streets
around the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried
and resurrected.
The event, the highlight of the Eastern Christian calendar, was
attended by pilgrims from around the world -- predominantly Eastern
Europe -- as well as Arab Israelis, all carrying unlit candles.
Greek Patriarch Theophilos III made his traditional grand entry at the
head of a procession of monks, chanters and dignitaries with red and
gold banners bearing icons.
After circling the shrine in the heart of the church three times, he
entered along with the Armenian Patriarch what Orthodox, Roman
Catholics and many other Christians believe is Jesus's burial site,
emerging minutes later with a lit candle.
The holy flame was swiftly passed from candle to candle between
ecstatic believers, most of whom had waited for several hours for the
ceremony which filled the air with light and smoke.
Some pilgrims passed their hands through the fire, saying it does not burn them.
The Holy Fire was passed outside to the crowds who watched the
ceremony on huge screens, and was then taken to nearby Bethlehem's
Church of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born, and
also flown out to Orthodox countries.
While the Church of the Sepulchre is one of Christianity's holiest
sites, it is shared uneasily by six denominations -- the Greek
Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Egyptian Copts, Syrian
Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox.
In the past, fist fights have broken out among monks from the
different denominations over perceived changes to the fragile status
quo hammered out down the centuries.
Roman Catholics in Jerusalem and Bethlehem celebrated Easter on March
31, according to the Gregorian calendar.
But this year other Catholics in the Holy Land, including those from
Nazareth, decided for the first time to mark Easter this Sunday under
the Orthodox calendar, in an act of ecumenical unity.
mab-pics-agr-jjm/srm
From: A. Papazian
May 4, 2013 Saturday 3:17 PM GMT
Orthodox Christians mark Jerusalem Holy Fire rite
JERUSALEM, May 04 2013
Throngs of Orthodox Christians filled Jerusalem's ancient Church of
the Holy Sepulchre and surrounding streets on Saturday for the "Holy
Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.
Believers hold that a divine fire from heaven ignites candles held by
the Greek Orthodox patriarch, in an annual rite dating back to the 4th
century AD symbolising the resurrection of Christ.
Israeli police deployed in large numbers to secure an estimated 10,000
faithful packed into the church, with a similar number in the streets
around the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried
and resurrected.
The event, the highlight of the Eastern Christian calendar, was
attended by pilgrims from around the world -- predominantly Eastern
Europe -- as well as Arab Israelis, all carrying unlit candles.
Greek Patriarch Theophilos III made his traditional grand entry at the
head of a procession of monks, chanters and dignitaries with red and
gold banners bearing icons.
After circling the shrine in the heart of the church three times, he
entered along with the Armenian Patriarch what Orthodox, Roman
Catholics and many other Christians believe is Jesus's burial site,
emerging minutes later with a lit candle.
The holy flame was swiftly passed from candle to candle between
ecstatic believers, most of whom had waited for several hours for the
ceremony which filled the air with light and smoke.
Some pilgrims passed their hands through the fire, saying it does not burn them.
The Holy Fire was passed outside to the crowds who watched the
ceremony on huge screens, and was then taken to nearby Bethlehem's
Church of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born, and
also flown out to Orthodox countries.
While the Church of the Sepulchre is one of Christianity's holiest
sites, it is shared uneasily by six denominations -- the Greek
Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Egyptian Copts, Syrian
Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox.
In the past, fist fights have broken out among monks from the
different denominations over perceived changes to the fragile status
quo hammered out down the centuries.
Roman Catholics in Jerusalem and Bethlehem celebrated Easter on March
31, according to the Gregorian calendar.
But this year other Catholics in the Holy Land, including those from
Nazareth, decided for the first time to mark Easter this Sunday under
the Orthodox calendar, in an act of ecumenical unity.
mab-pics-agr-jjm/srm
From: A. Papazian